n [ C , U ]
a type of comedy play written during and after the Restoration in Britain. Restoration comedies often deal with the sexual adventures of the upper classes, and show characters behaving in a foolish or wicked way. Examples include The Country Wife (1675) by William Wycherley , Love for Love (1695) by William Congreve and The Beaux’ Stratagem (1707) by George Farquhar. They were also the first plays in the British theatre in which women appeared as actors.